PM: Serbia wants best possible relations with Kazakhstan

PM: Serbia wants best possible relations with Kazakhstan

At the start of the meeting attended on the Serbian side also by Economy Minister Goran Knezevic, Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Branislav Nedimovic, and Belgrade Mayor Sinisa Mali, Vucic stressed that Serbia was highly appreciative of the principled stance of Kazakhstan and its president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, not to recognize Kosovo's secession and instead respect Serbia's territorial integrity and sovereignty, and for supporting the preservation of Serb cultural heritage in Kosovo and Metohija.

This, Vucic remarked, shows Kazakhstan's "sincere, high-level stance toward Serbia."

"As Kazakhstan, you have a sincere friend in Serbia, which I am certain you can feel. There is no international issue where Serbia would stand opposed to Kazakhstan's side," Vucic underlined.

After the meeting between the two prime ministers and their delegations, a roadmap for the promotion of cooperation between Serbia and Kazakhstan for the period 2017-2018 was signed by Minister of Economy Goran Knezevic and Minister of National Economy of Kazakhstan Kuandik Bishimbayev, as well as a protocol of intent between the City of Belgrade and the City of Astana, which was signed by Belgrade Mayor Sinisa Mali and Mayor of Astana Aset Issekeshev.

In a joint news conference, Vucic said Serbia owed a great debt of gratitude to President Nazarbayev for his "excellent visit" and that this was the political platform "based on which we wish to develop our relations."

"We want to have best possible relations with Kazakhstan," Vucic stressed, adding that this concerns ties between the governments, the business people, and the two nations.

Vucic said that Serbia is ready to strengthen economic cooperation with Kazakhstan and will present a very serious potential at the exhibition Expo-2017, which will be held in Astana.

He and his Kazakh counterpart talked about exports of Fiat vehicles manufactured in Serbia to the Eurasian market, "that in the course of his tomorrow's visit to Moscow, Sagintayev will discuss with Russian Prime Minister Medvedev," the Serbian government said on its website.

According to the same source, Vucic also spoke with Sagintayev about opening Kazakhstan's embassy in Serbia, "which would contribute to the strengthening of relations between the two countries."

Sagintayev said that after the visit of President Nazarbayev to Serbia, Kazakhstan was working on a detailed plan of activities in cooperation with Serbia.

He called on Serbian construction companies to participate with the Kazakh companies in the infrastructure projects that this country has with China on the Silk Road.

Also, he added, there are great opportunities for Serbian companies engaged in agricultural production to export food products together with the companies from Kazakhstan to third markets.

Sagintayev thanked Serbia for supporting his government's and nation's initiatives, including the bid to join the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member in 2017 and 2018, and also for Serbia's participation in the upcoming Expo-2017 in Astana.

"All conditions have been created, there is a visa-free regime, free trade, and I think today's Business Forum will yield results. Numerous contracts will be signed in its wake that will move toward developing trade relations between the two countries," Kazakhstan's prime minister stressed.